PREVENTION CHEAPER THAN CURE

If handing out these kits, costing just $2 each, prevents the spread
of even one case of HIV or hepatitis C, the money will have been very
well spent.

Medication costs alone for treating HIV or hep C for one year start at
$15,000 and rise quickly. Add to this potential costs for
hospitalization due to HIV infections; lost tax revenue (not all crack
users live on welfare on the streets -- many hold down jobs); and the
incalculable suffering whenever a person acquires a deadly disease --
and this preventive initiative becomes a bargain.

Kits for safer drug use already work well in other cities and are
overdue in being used here. Hats off to the WRHA for taking an
innovative approach to pro-actively slowing the spread of a deadly
epidemic.

Bernie Lopko, RN

Winnipeg

(Back to the unhappy majority ...)